Loose-leaf binder.



G. D. TRUSSELL.

LOOSE LEAF BINDER. APPLIGATION FILED 111111: 1,1911.

1,025,170. 7 a Patented May 7,1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 INVENTOR .6. WITNESSES: Ly L fi I j d [3y Afforzze s,

F 0 'f' l yw G. D. TRUSSELL.

LOOSE LEAF BINDER.

APPLIGATION FILED JUNE 1,1911.

1,025,170. Patented May 7,1912.

1 3 .13. INVENTOR vy TNEssEs'; w Q' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CLARENCE D. TRUSSELL, OF POUGH'KEEPSIE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO TRUSSELL MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF NEW YORK.

, To on whom it may concern:

of Fig. 14; Fig. 16 is Be it known that I, CLARENCE D. TRUS- SELL, a citizen of the United States, residing in Pough-keepsie, in the county of Dutchess and State of New York, have invented cer- .loose sheets, and to close together to form complete rings for confining such sheets. The half rings, otherwise called hooks, are commonly mounted upon plates, and the respective plates so connected as to retain either the open or closed position.

The present invention relates to binders I of this type wherein the plates are subjected to a spring action, whereby when pulled open or closed they are held in either position by spring stress and resist with suitable firmness the effort to displace them from such position.

The present invention also relates to the. construction of a loose leaf book, and specifically to the cover or back and its connection with the ring mechanism.

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is an oblique elevation or perspective of a binder constructed according to the present invention; Figs. 2 and 3 are transverse sections on a larger scale showing the ring mechanism with the rings in the-closed and open positions respectively; Figs. 4 and 5 are edge and top views respectively of the yoke; Fig. 6 is a transverse section of the hook plates and sheath; Fig. 7 showsthe hooks or half rings assembled; Fig. 8 is a transverse section of the back plate; Flgs. 9 and 10 are respectively top and bottom views of the ring mechanism removed from the book back or'cover; Fig. 11 shows the hook plates or ring plates separated; Flg. 12 is a transverse section showing the book back or cover before receiving its back plate; Fig. 13 is a similar section showing the back plate applied; Fig. 14 1s a plan of a device for binding together leaves which are to be inserted collectively into the ring binder; Fig. 15 is a transverse section an end view of the collective binder.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application fiIed J'une- 1., 1911.

POUGHKEEPSIE, NEW YORK, A. CORPORATION OF LOOSE-LEAF BINDER.

Serial No. 630,660.

Referring to the'drawings, let A designate the cover of the book, and B as a whole the ring binder. The latter comprises a plurallty of divided rings C C, the respective half rings or hooks being mounted onplates I) D which extend as heretofore in parallel direction from end to end of the book b ack. The plates are united by two or more yokes E, one of which is shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The plates are preferably notched ata a on opposite sides to receive these yokes and prevent displacement there- The plates are separated from each other along their inner edges, except that they are provided with rocking bearings which are located at points non-coincident with the yokes. The plates are capable of a limited motion upon these rocking bearings, whereby to allow for the opening and closing movements of the respective rings. At their notches a a they have a rocking engagement with the respective yokes. The plates are assembled or engaged with the yokes under lateral stress, so that they'continually bear outwardly at the notches a a against the yokes. The yokes are niade of thick and substantially rigidmetal, so that they do not yield to this outward pressure. The plates, on the contrary, are made sulficiently resilient to yield by lateral distor tion to the strains encountered in moving between the open and closed positions of the rings. Each plate is thus flexedor distorted in its own plane or substantially so, and itself becomes the spring by which the hooks or half rings are caused to remain either open or closed, and to resist any effort to displace them from such positions toward and past the intermediate position. In passing such intermediate osition, the plates exert an outward reaction whereby their outward stress against the yokes is increased, so that at this intermediate point their own flexure or distortion is at the maximum. w

The construction thus described has the advantage of great simplicity and avoids the necessity of introducing springs or using a resilient back plate. It makes a cheap and easily assembled binder the parts of which are symmetrical, are easily formed by customary punching operations, and may be conveniently assembled together and easily united to thebook back.

The rocker bearings between the respec- Patented May 7, 1912.

tive plates might be constructed in any of the ways known in the art, but preferably the half rings are utilized as the bearing or rocking engagement, being formed with a reciprocal projection b and'notch 0, as

. ment of the faces of the half rings (see Fig. 2), but the opening movement requires some special stop. Such stop is'conveniently afforded by providing the respective plates B B with projecting lugs or fingers f fwhich are bent down from each plate to a lower V binder.

plane and pass beneath the reciprocal plate, being so shaped that when the hooks are pressed open to the position shown in Fig. 3. these fingers hear upwardly against the under sides of the respective plates (see Fig. 6) and thereby limit their'relative fiexure and stop the further opening of the rings. This stop construction forms no art of the present invention. and may be'substituted by any other known stops.

The structures thus described constitutes the ring mechanism properly so called. It requires, however. some suitable means of attaching it to the book cover or other element constituting the outer portion of the In a loose leaf book this portion is constituted by the cover A. This cover may as heretofore be constructed of a single integral sheet of leather or other suitable material, so that the sides or flaps of the book back A'- are all made of the one sheet. To provide a flexible hinge between the cover flaps and the back, it is preferable to cut grooves or creases g g in the leather as heretofore. For uniting any such book back to the ring mechanism, some suitable engaging connection is necessary. For this urpose it is preferable to employ a flanged ack plate or sheath F, as best 'shown in Fig. 6, the

flanges of which engage the outer edges of the plates B B' so that these plates cannot escape from the grip of these flanges. The sheath F may be made of metal sufiiciently thin and flexible for the purpose. It re sembles superficially the spring backs heretofore used in certainbinders of this type, but it has no spring function, both because it need have no resiliency, and becausefthe outer edges of the plates remain at a fixed distance apart, being confined thereto by the grip of the yokes E E. The sheath- F. serves the sole function of uniting the ring mechanism to the book back. For this purpose the ends ofthe sheath F are gripped by ears 7:. h turned down from the opposite ends of a back plateG which is fastened to or forms part of the book back.

The book back A is of novel construction. The leather sheet is slitted from the middle toward the sides to form flaps i .i (Fig. 12). These flaps are turned up and the metal back plate G (Fig. 8) which is suitably curved, is inserted beneath them and cemented both to the integral back portion j and on its upper side to the flaps z i. It thus forms a stiflening plate embedded in the leather of the book back. It's upturned end *portions form ears h h. To fasten the book back thus formed to the ring mechanism, it is only necessary to bring the parts together and turn down the ears h h over the ends of the sheath plate F.

When it isdesired to group several leaves permanently together and insert this group as a unit in the ring binder, the construction shown in Figs. 14 and 15 is utilized. A series of strips of paper or woven fabric k are superposed and united permanently together at one portion Z, their free edges forming stubs to which to gum or otherwise attach the leaves H H which are to be grouped together. These leaves are preferably gummed to the stubs. The stubs may be gummed or cemented together at Z or may be otherwise united so that they shall collectively be provided with holes I I to receive the respective rings C C. This may be accomplished by a sheet metal strip or binding plate J which wraps around and embraces and is clamped upon the portion Z of the strips or stubs, so that it firmly grips and permanently unites them. The holes I I are punched through both the strips and the metal plate. To more efiectually unite the opposite leaves of the metal plate, these metal of the plate itself. The binding strip thus formed afi'ords a very convenient means for binding together a group of leayes relating to the same matter and requirlng to be 1 with their points of contact with-such members, and elsewhere separated along their inner edges, and the plate sufliciently resilient to yield by lateral distortion in their respective planes to the strains encountered in moving between the open and closed positions of said rin 2. A ring bind??? comprising plates carrying the'half-rings, the latter having reciprocal rocking bear1ngs, and rigid yokes noncoincident with such half rings uniting the plates, and against which the plates bear outwardly at their outer edges, the plates separated along their inner edges, and sufiiciently resilient to yield by lateral distortion in their respective planes to the strains enin mov' Corrections in Letters Patent No. 1 ,025,1 70.

countered in moving between the open and closed positions of said rings.

3. A ring binder comprising plates carrying the half-rin s, and rigid yokes uniting them, a ainst w ich yokes the plates bear outwa' y at their outer edges, the plates notched at their outer edgesto receive said yokes, .and having reciprocal rocking bearings .at points non-coincident with such yokes, and elsewhere separated along their inner edges, and the plates sufficiently resilient to'yield bylateral distortion in their respective planes to the strains encountered between the open and closed positions o saidrings.

4. A ring binder comprising plates carryingthe half-rings, and rigid yokes uniting them, against which yokes the plates bear outwardly at their'outer edges, the plates having reciprocal rockin bearings at points non-coincident with suc yokes, and elsewhere separated along their inner edges, and theplates sufliciently resilient to yield by lateral distortion in their respective planes to the strains encountered in moving between the open and closed positions of said rings, and an outer sheath embracing the plates and yokes.

[SEAL] subscribing witnesses.

5. A ring binder comprising plates carrying the half-rings, and. rigid yokes uniting them, against which yokes the plates bear outwardly at their outer edges, the plates having reciprocal rocking bearings at points non-coincident with such yokes, and elsewhere separated along their inner edges, and the plates sufficiently resilient to yield byla-teral distortion in their respective planes to the strains encountered in moving between the open and closed positions of said rings, an outer sheath engaging the plate's and yokes, and a cover attached to said sheath.

.6. In a binder, a flexible cover having its back portion split on its inner side to form flaps, and a metal back plate inserted in such split portiomind the flaps fastened down against itto embed it in such back portion. v p

7. In a binder, a flexible cover having its back portion split on its inner side to form flaps, and a metal back plate inserted in such split portion and cemented therein.

8. In a binder, a flexible coyer having its back portion split on its inner side to form flaps of tapering thickness, and a metal back-plate cemented in such split portion.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two CLARENCE D. TRUSSELL.

Witnesses:

JOHN V. MILLER, STANLEY HUSTED.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,025,170, granted May 7, 1912, upon the application of Cla1'ence D. Trussell, of Poughkee'psie, New York, for an" improvement in Loose-Leaf Binders, errors appear in the printed specification requiring correction as follows: :Page 1, line 98, after the comma, insert the word and; page 2, line 125, for the word plate read plates," and that, the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to" the record of the case in the Patent Oflice. I i

Signed and sealed this 11th day of June, D., 1912.

c, c. BILLINGS, Acting Oommz'sizmer of Patents.

ing the'half-rings, the latter having reciprocal rocking bear1ngs, and rigid yokes noncoincident with such half rings uniting the plates, and against which the plates bear outwardly at their outer edges, the plates separated along their inner edges, and sufiiciently resilient to yield by lateral distortion in their respective planes to the strains enin mov' Corrections in Letters Patent No. 1 ,025,1 70.

countered in moving between the open and closed positions of said rings.

3. A ring binder comprising plates carrying the half-rin s, and rigid yokes uniting them, a ainst w ich yokes the plates bear outwa' y at their outer edges, the plates notched at their outer edgesto receive said yokes, .and having reciprocal rocking bearings .at points non-coincident with such yokes, and elsewhere separated along their inner edges, and the plates sufficiently resilient to'yield bylateral distortion in their respective planes to the strains encountered between the open and closed positions o saidrings.

4. A ring binder comprising plates carryingthe half-rings, and rigid yokes uniting them, against which yokes the plates bear outwardly at their'outer edges, the plates having reciprocal rockin bearings at points non-coincident with suc yokes, and elsewhere separated along their inner edges, and theplates sufliciently resilient to yield by lateral distortion in their respective planes to the strains encountered in moving between the open and closed positions of said rings, and an outer sheath embracing the plates and yokes.

[SEAL] subscribing witnesses.

5. A ring binder comprising plates carrying the half-rings, and. rigid yokes uniting them, against which yokes the plates bear outwardly at their outer edges, the plates having reciprocal rocking bearings at points non-coincident with such yokes, and elsewhere separated along their inner edges, and the plates sufficiently resilient to yield byla-teral distortion in their respective planes to the strains encountered in moving between the open and closed positions of said rings, an outer sheath engaging the plate's and yokes, and a cover attached to said sheath.

.6. In a binder, a flexible cover having its back portion split on its inner side to form flaps, and a metal back plate inserted in such split portiomind the flaps fastened down against itto embed it in such back portion. v p

7. In a binder, a flexible cover having its back portion split on its inner side to form flaps, and a metal back plate inserted in such split portion and cemented therein.

8. In a binder, a flexible coyer having its back portion split on its inner side to form flaps of tapering thickness, and a metal back-plate cemented in such split portion.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two CLARENCE D. TRUSSELL.

Witnesses:

JOHN V. MILLER, STANLEY HUSTED.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,025,170, granted May 7, 1912, upon the application of Cla1'ence D. Trussell, of Poughkee'psie, New York, for an" improvement in Loose-Leaf Binders, errors appear in the printed specification requiring correction as follows: :Page 1, line 98, after the comma, insert the word and; page 2, line 125, for the word plate read plates," and that, the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to" the record of the case in the Patent Oflice. I i

Signed and sealed this 11th day of June, D., 1912.

c, c. BILLINGS, Acting Oommz'sizmer of Patents.

Corrections in Letters Patent No. 1,025,170.

upon the application of Clarence D. Trussell, of Poughkeepsie, New York, for an improvement in Loose-Leaf Binders, errors appear in the printed specification requiring correction as follows: Page 1,7line 98, after the comma, insert the word and; page 2, line 125, for the word plate read plates, and that the said Letters Pzitent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Ofliee.

[SEAL] C. C. BILLING-S,

Acting Commzlefl'oner of Patents. 

